Interested in playing tennis? You’ve picked a great sport! Research shows that tennis increases life expectancy up to ten years. To start, you need equipment (a tennis racquet and tennis ball), a local court, and a partner to play with. Interested in going solo? You can find a wall nearby and practice there. The wall is the toughest opponent as it never misses!

How to find courts

We recommend doing an internet search for local parks that have tennis courts as they are often the cheapest option for play. Local tennis clubs may charge a fee, but joining a junior or adult clinic can help you meet like-minded and similarly leveled players that you can practice with on your own.

lessons

If you are looking for lessons, the Professional Tennis Registry is a certifying body of teaching professionals with a directory of certified pros you can work with.

compete: adults

If you’re interested in competition as an adult, you can either play events at your local club or play in your area’s league tennis program. Leagues are often governed by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), which is divided into seventeen sections (or regions). Contact your local league coordinator for more info on how to join a USTA league.

If you continue competing, you will be eventually work into the NTRP rating: a measuring tool that indicates a person’s current playing ability. For more information about the NTRP ratings, please click the button below.